Lamp-remover.



L. J. STEARN.

LAMPREMOVER. APPLICATION FI LED JULY 5, I91].

' 1,267,009. Patented May 21,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ENVENTOH ATTORNEY L. l. STEARN.

LAMP REMOVER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.1911.

1,267,909. Patented May 21,1918.

2 SHE ET$$HEET 2.

ATTORNEY TE STATES LOUIS J. STEARN, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

LAMP-REMOVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Application filed July 5, 1917. Serial No. 178,832..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS J. STEARN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Removers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lamp removers, and particularly to means for removing incandescent electric lamp bulbs from their sockets or for properly positioning said lamps in their sockets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this class which is of light weight and which is capable of being operated by a single person, and which is adapted particularly to be used in applying electric light bulbs to or removing said bulbs from sockets remote from the position of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth which is equipped with improved clamping means for engagin the lamp bulb, and which is also equipped with improved means for rotating the clamping element after the latter has been engaged with'the bulb.

Still further objects reside in providing a device of the character mentioned, which shall be of extremely simple and inexpensive construction, which is capable of being used in applying bulbs to or removing the same from sockets disposed at difierent angles, which is positive in its various operations, which has its various parts so assembled as to minimize the opportunity for wear, breakage or derangement, and which will prove thoroughly practical and efiicient in use.

With these objects in view together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination and arrangement of parts all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustratedin the drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lamp remover constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, parts being broken away, of the clamping means and the apparatus for operating the same,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the clamp end of'the support for the apparatus,

Fig. at is a rear elevation of the lower end of the supporting stafi, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through the clamping jaws of the improved lamp clamp.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 indicates a support, the said support in the present instance constituting a staff formed of suitable metal or wood, and which is preferably of light weight so as to be capable of being operated by a single person. The staff in the present instance is relatively long, and has hingedly connected at one end thereof an arm 11, the said arm being capable of being swung to assume various delgrees of angularity with relation to the major portion of the staff, and the said arm is held in its various positions of angular adjustment by the set screws indicated at 12. Mounted. for rotation in the arm 11 and extending from the rear to the front face thereof is a hollow rotatable member 13. This member is provided at its forward end with an outwardly extending flange 1 1, the said flange limiting the rearward movement 0 the tubular member, and a sprocket gear 15 is fixedly secured to the rearwardly extending portion of the said tubular member 13. A nut 16 holds the gear upon the member 13, and it will be understood from this construction, that rotary movement delivered to the sprocket 15 will be transmitted to the mem-, ber 13, whereupon the latter will rotate.

The rotatable sleeve 13 accommodates the rear end of a clamping element indicated generally at 17. This clamping element includes a pair of jaws 18, the said jaws being resiliently connected together at their rear ends by a spring 19, the latter providing a pair of arms, one of which is connected to each of the jaws 18. These jaws are of such contour as will enable the same to closely conform to the shape of the ordinary electric light bulb, and, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the inner faces, of these jaws may be padded with felt, cork, rubber or the like, indicated at 19. By providing the inner faces of the jaws with this non-abrasive material, it is obvious that danger of injury to the fragile lamp bulb is obviated. The tendency of the spring element 19 is to force the jaws 18 to open position, and when the clamp 17 is moved forwardly, the said jaws will be so positioned. When the clamp is moved rearwardly, however, the jaws W11 engage the forward end of the rotatable sleeve 13, and continued rearward movement of the clamp will force the jaws 18 into clamping position.

rojecting rearwardly from the arm 11 is a bracket 21, to which is pivoted as at 22a: lever 23,.the latter being forked at its upper end as at 24 to receive the'rear end of a rod 25. This rod is provided at its opposite ends with enlargements such as balls 26, and the said rod extends through a suitable opening formed in the rear end of the spring 19. The opposite end of this rod rests within the forked. end 24 of the lever 23, and it is obvious, therefore, that when the lever 23 is swung in one direction, the rod 25 will be moved reaI'Wardly whereupon the clamp 17 will be drawn inwardly in the rotatable Sleeve 13. This action will, as has been above described, cause the clamping jaws to be moved to clamping position. When the lever 23 is released, the spring 19 in forcing the jaws 18 against the edges of the sleeve 13 will cause the clamp to move forwardly through the said sleeve, whereupon the rod 25 will be correspondingly moved.

Rotatably mounted upon the staff 10 at the lower end thereof is a sprocket gear 30, the latter being adapted to be rotated by a crank or handle 31. A sprocket chain 32 passes over the gear 20 and the gear 15, and it is obvious that rotary movement delivered to the former gear will be transmitted to the ear 15 and sleeve 13.

A lever 35 is also pivoted upon the stafi 10 adjacent the lower end thereof, and this lever has connected thereto one end of a cord 36, the said cord passing beneath su1table guide rollers or pulleys 37 arranged in spaced relation upon the staff, and being connected at its opposite end to the lever 23 at the upper end of the staff. The lever 35 travels over a segment 38, so that the said lever may be held in its various positions of adjustment. 1

In operation, the arm 11 at the upper end of the shaft is adjusted to its proper angular position and the set-screw or wing-nut 12 is tightened. The lever 35 is then released, so that the clamp 17 will move for wardlyof the arm and the jaws thereof will open to their limit. The staff is then held by the operator so that the jaws 18 of the clam will be disposed around the lamp whic it is desired to remove from its socket. When so positioned, the lever 35 may be drawn downwardly, whereupon the lever 23 will be rocked upon its pivot 22 so as to pull the rod 25 rearwardly, and it will be understood that this action will correspondingly move the clamp 17. As the rear end of the clamp enters the sleeve 13, the edges of the jaws 18 will engage the annular edge of the said sleeve, whereupon the jaws are forced toward each other. Just assoon as sprocket gear 30 will cause rotatable member mounted the jaws have become engaged with the bulb, the lever 35 may be locked with the segment 38, and rotary movement delivered to the the sleeve 13 to correspondingly rotate, so that the clamp 17 The frictional contact between the moves.

jaws 18of the clamp with the interior sur:

face of the sleeve 13, will prove suflicient to establish a positive driving connection between the sleeve and clamp. After the lamp bulb has been unscrewed from its socket, the lamp may be readliy removed from between the jaws of the clamp. The appli cation of lamps to their sockets with an instrument of this character will be readily obvious.

From the foregoing it is apparent that l have provided an extremely simple and yet thoroughly eflicient means for the manipulation of electric lamp bulbs, and one which will be positive in its various operations and will not become deranged or disordered.

While the present is a disclosure of what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but thatvarious changes in the minor details of construction, proportion, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to if desiredwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a globe remover,

in said staff and extending through the same, a clamp com prising a pair of jaws secured together at one end and being capable of moving toward'and away from each other at their free ends, a lever pivoted on said staff and hav--.

ing one end capable of moving toward and away from the same, a link secured at one end to said lever end and having its opposite end extended into said hollow member and secured to the connected end of said clamp jaws, and means for rocking said lever.

2. In a globe remover, a staff having an openingextending through the same, a pair of clamp jaws secured together at one end and being capable of moving toward and away from each other at their opposite ends, a lever on said staff, a link connected at one end to said lever and extending into said opening and being secured at its opposite end to said clamp at the connected ends of said jaws, means for rocking said lever, and means for rotating said clamp.

3. In a globe remover, a staff," a hollow rotatable member in said staff and extending entirely through the same, a clamp comprising a pair of jaws, a leaf spring connecting the said jaws at one end and tending normally to force the said jaws apart, a lever on one side of said staff, a. link loosely connected at one end to said lever and extending through the said rotatablea staff, a hollow member and being connected at its opposite end to said leaf spring, means for rocking said lever, and means for rotating said rotatable member.

4. In a globe remover, a staff, a hollow sleeve rotatably mounted on said stafi, a clamp comprising a pair of jaws capable of moving toward and away from each other, a spring for normally holding said jaws separated, the inner end of said clamp being disposed within said sleeve, a lever on said staff, a rod connecting one end of said lever with said clamp, the said lever when moved in one direction being adapt-ed to move said clamp inwardly of said sleeve and to engage the arms of said clamp with the interior walls of said sleeve, and a manually operable lever on said staff for rocking said first mentioned lever.

5. In a globe remover, a staff, a sleeve rotatably mounted at one end of said staff, a

clamp carried by said sleeve, the said clamp comprising a plurality of jaws pivoted together at one end, means tending normally to force said jaws apart, the pivoted end of said clamp extending within said sleeve, a bracket upon said stafi", a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said bracket, a rod connecting one end of said lever and the adj acent end of said clamp, a manually operable lever upon said staff, a cable for connecting said lever with said first mentioned lever, a pair of gears, one of said gears being connected with said sleeve, a chain pass-- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

